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Engaging new partners using technology is working

Let's work together to help more people stay warm and manage their energy bills

05 May 2020

We’re making the most of technology to help us form new partnerships during the lockdown. This helps us to support more people who are facing higher energy bills during the coronavirus outbreak. It’s great to be able to widen our reach and we’re pleased to see new organisations getting in touch to partner with us, after hearing about the work we’re doing with others.

Partnership Officer Alan Crawford recently delivered training on Home Energy Scotland services to a team who support youth and community work in Govanhill and the Gorbals.

One of the community workers from Crossroads Youth and Community Association contacted Alan after hearing about Home Energy Scotland from one of our existing partners, Gorbals Housing Association. The Crossroads team identified residents who needed support with billing issues and meter top ups, and wondered if we could help.

Alan got on the case straight away, firstly getting in touch with local energy providersto provide emergency top ups for the residents who would have been without electricity otherwise.

Alan then arranged a remote training session with Crossroads using Microsoft Teams. He gave an overview of how Home Energy Scotland can help Crossroads and the people they work with, and set up seven Youth Co-ordinators and Community Workers with access to our online portal. This means they’ll be able to quickly and securely refer people to us for advice and support.

Alan said, “Delivering the session using Microsoft Teams was straightforward and I kept dialogue two-way with plenty of opportunity for questions. I’m pleased to say that the team have already started to refer to us via the portal.”

The Crossroads team were also pleased with the training. One of the attendees said it was an “excellent, informative session” and another said, “Alan was fantastic – clear, concise and knowledgeable.”

This new partnership should help residents of Govanhill and the Gorbals get support to manage their energy bills, at a time when many may be finding this hard. Another member of the Crossroads team said after the training, “Thank you Alan for being so helpful and informative during this difficult time.”